Of the 2,400 hectares required for the project, close to 1,300 belongs to the government and process will be expedited to acquire the remaining land.

The prolonged wait for NOC from the ministry of defence to the international airport at Purandar got over on January 13 when the MoD finally gave its go ahead.(HT REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Pune: “The land acquisition for the Purandar international Airport is likely to begin in a week’s time,” said Vijay Shivtare, minister of state for water resources and water conservation, who also represents the Purandar assembly constituency.

Addressing a press conference in Pune, Shivtare expressed his gratitude towards the ministry of defence for giving the non objection certificate (NOC) to the airport project and said that plan is on fast track mode.

Of the 2,400 hectares required for the project, close to 1,300 belongs to the government and process will be expedited to acquire the remaining land, the minister said.

Uttam Patil, deputy collector, land acquisition said, “An official letter to go ahead with the process of land acquisition is expected soon. We have prepared three different models abiding to which the acquisition process will be done.”Farmers can chose from three models viz. land for land, a developed plot or subsistence allowance for 10 years. We are happy to receive assent from 80 per cent of the farmers for the land acquisition.”

The prolonged wait for NOC from the ministry of defence to the international airport at Purandar got over on January 13 when the MoD finally gave its go ahead. The project is perceived to be an instrumental factor in giving boost to the development of Western region of Maharashtra along with Marathwada.